Proposed rules from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration would, for the first time, create regulations to better protect workers from the effects of extreme heat. Pictured above, a construction worker takes a break and drinks some water during a heat wave in Boston on June 19.
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Joseph Prezioso/AFP/Getty Images
The U.S. Department of Labor has proposed a new rule requiring employers to develop injury and illness prevention plans to better protect workers from heat-related injuries and deaths.
“Workers across the country are collapsing, suffering from heatstroke, and even dying from heat-related injuries on the job, and measures must be taken to protect them,” said Doug Parker, assistant secretary of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), in a statement this week. Two said in a statement.
“Today’s proposal is an important step toward soliciting public input and crafting a ‘win-win’ final rule that protects workers while being practical for employers,” Parker said.
Heat is the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the United States, killing more than 200 people last year. The department said the new rules could protect about 36 million workers across the country, especially people of color who are more likely to hold jobs where they may be exposed to extreme heat.
The proposed rule comes as the United States continues to experience record-breaking heat waves and extreme weather activity, with more than 75 million people under heat warnings on Tuesday.
Last year was the hottest year on record since global temperature records began in 1850.
Heat-related deaths have climbed over the past few years as the world continues to contend with more extreme weather conditions, with scientific consensus pointing to climate change caused by human activities as the culprit. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, between 1992 and 2022, an average of 34 people died each year in the workplace due to heat. In 2022 alone, 43 people died.
“Every worker deserves to go home safe and healthy at the end of the day, which is why the Biden-Harris administration is taking this important step to protect workers from extreme high temperatures,” said Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su. The dangers of temperature.
The Labor Department’s proposal would create a new set of protections around two separate heat index thresholds. At the first trigger, when the temperature and relative humidity combined reach 80 degrees, employers will be required to provide drinking water and rest breaks.
When the heat index reaches 90 degrees, additional protective measures kick in. At that time, employers must also provide at least 15 minutes of paid breaks every two hours. They must also have a system in place to monitor employees for heat-related illness or symptoms.
Finalizing the rule will be an uphill battle amid a tumultuous election year and fierce opposition from deep-pocketed lobbying groups.
The path to approval may be easier if President Joe Biden is re-elected, but former President Trump, the Republican presidential nominee, has said he intends to minimize federal oversight of private industry and could block implementation of the rule.
